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Uses of Kojic Acid

Kojic acid is a substance found in fungus or mushrooms, and it is also created--latently--during the fermentation process of rice malting for sake. It is a compound composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. There are a number of uses for kojic acid, though it is currently most popular as an additive in skin products.

  1. Skin Whitening

    • Kojic acid is most widely known as a skin whitening agent. But how does it work?

      As the human body converts tyrosine, an amino acid, melanin or skin pigmentation is produced. Tyrosinase, an enzyme, is needed for this conversion process. Kojic acid has been shown to inhibit tyrosinase activity, and thus reduce melanin skin pigment production. It is effective in treating acne, age spots and freckles. The concentration of kojic acid in most skin products ranges from 0.2 percent to 1 percent.

    Food Additive

    • The antibacterial and antioxidant properties of kojic acid make it a useful, natural preservative in food production. It's germicidal effect on food helps retard mold growth and kill bacteria. Additionally, because it prevents foods from browning from the oxidation process--think of what happens to an apple slice over time--kojic acid is also used as a color stabilizer to keep food looking fresh and appetizing. It's used not only in fruits and vegetables to preserve their color, but in seafood as well.

    Non-Cosmetic Medicines

    • Kojic acid is found in a number of important antibiotics, such as cephamycin and aspergillus. This makes sense given the antibacterial properties of kojic acid that make it such a popular food preservation agent. The antioxidant properties of kojic acid also make it useful in fighting off the free radicals that can lead to cancer over time.

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